The Mouse StuD

There are many considerations when setting up a stud for show mice.

Do you want to keep your stud indoors or in a shed or garage?

Mice are very able to withstand cold and do well
enough in a shed over a British winter, provided they have have
enough nesting material to snuggle up in. The summer is a different
matter however, and if you are keeping your stock outside you need to
make sure they are protected from the heat as mice can overheat and
die very quickly and easily. You need to make sure that wild rodents
and predatory animals can't get in but your shed must be
well-ventilated. In a shed your mice have their own safe little world
where not much disturbs them, it doesn't matter if it smells, and you
don't have embarrassing situations when you invite musophobics round
to dinner. On the other hand, you have to go out there every day,
whether you feel like it or not, whatever the weather.

Once you have decided where your stud will be located, then
there is the decision about how you will house your mice

Traditionally mouse fanciers have made wooden
boxes for their mice to be housed in, much like the boxes in this
traditional mouse shed:

More recently, fanciers have started to use
converted plastic storage boxes, these are cheap, easy to clean and
come in a range of sizes to suit your needs. The wire mesh used on
these is 6mm, an example is pictured here next to a modern mixed
mouse shed.

Another option is to purchase Lab breeding cages.
These are strong, easy to clean and will last for many years. The
wire lids of these cages can be turned upside down to provide
additional headroom for your mice. Here they are pictured in a modern
indoor stud:

Other things your stud may need are:

SEALED FOOD BIN:

When running on as many mice as it takes to keep a
stud thriving, you'll want a large, sealable container to keep your
mouse food in. If you keep your stud outside in a shed then it's
doubly important the food bin seals tight and that you pick up any
food spillages as easily available food will attract unwelcome
visitors.

SOILED BEDDING BIN:

You'll need somewhere to empty your boxes into.

SPACE TO STORE BEDDING AND NESTING MATERIAL:

You'll want to buy in bulk when running a stud, so
you'll need somewhere to put it!

A SOURCE OF NATURAL DAYLIGHT:

The mice themselves aren't bothered about getting
daylight as they are dawn and dusk mammals, but you need it to
inspect them. A mouse's colour will look completely different in
incandscent or fluorescent light, so make sure you have somewhere to
view them in natural daylight.

Many Thanks to Sarah
Yeomans for allowing the use of much of the written material and
photographs in the production of this article